Olivia nodded.“We’re not looking to compete nationwide, but offering a half-dozen options would be great.Amber hopes to serve them in the Inn.We can also sell to locals and tourists in the gift shop she’s planning.”
He dried the pot and set it back on the stove so they could try another combination.“We have some good combinations already.Maybe we stick with three basic flavors and then try for three others on a rotating basis?”
She nodded.“That’s a good plan.Everyone likes the apple cinnamon combination.”
“And the one with the raspberries.”
Charlie piped up from the front room where he and Ella played with her stuffed dragon.“I liked the maple one, too.If Gray’s trees produce sap, it would make it unique to the farm.It could be our local specialty.”
He grinned at his kid.“You’ll be a business expert if you keep thinking like that.”
Charlie grinned.“Maybe.”
Nash turned to Olivia.“Okay, let’s brainstorm some more flavors.What kinds of cake and candy flavors do you like?”
Her eyes lit up.“In the group home I lived in, one of the workers loved to bake.She taught us all kinds of kitchen skills.She made a chocolate cake with caramel sea-salt icing that was the most delicious thing I ever tasted.”
Charlie bounced over to the island.“That sounds great.We could try chocolate and caramel together and separately.What’s a group home?”
Damn.He hoped Olivia didn’t mind the question.
She smiled at Charlie.“It’s a home where kids live if they don’t have families.”
Charlie’s eyes widened.“You didn’t have a family?”
Olivia shook her head.“No.My mom died when I was little, and there was no other family to take me in, so I went into foster care.I lived in foster homes until I was a teen and then a group home until I turned eighteen.”
Charlie frowned.“I’m sorry you didn’t have a family.That must have been weird.”
To Nash’s surprise, Olivia laughed.“Not really.It was what I knew.I met my best friend in that group home.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and Nash couldn’t stop reaching out in comfort.He tugged her into a side hug.
She smiled softly at him before her eyes drifted to where Ella Mae chatted with her dragon.“She died in a car crash a year ago, and I miss her a lot.”
Charlie moved around the island and threw his arms around Olivia.“I’m sorry I brought up sad memories.”
Olivia looked at Nash as she blinked away the tears.“It’s okay, Charlie.I have so many good memories of Mary Mae, and talking about her is good.”
“Mary Mae?Is that why you called your daughter Ella Mae?To help you remember your friend.”
“That’s exactly right.”Her voice was husky, and Nash hugged them both tightly.
Ella looked up from her dragon and squealed when she saw them huddled together.“Mama.”
Charlie laughed.“Looks like Ella Mae wants in on the hug, too.”
He scurried over, picked up the girl, and brought her back to where Nash and Olivia stood.
Unable to do anything else, Nash pulled them all in for a huge hug.
His heart settled.This was what he wanted.A family.His family.This family.
Time to get serious about making it happen.
Chapter12
Kiss And Tell
